~Chapter 04~
“The Duchess of Willovis?”
Only then did I feel a bit relieved.
So, he didn’t come here knowing everything.
At least I avoided the worst-case scenario.
“A banquet, huh. I guess it’s that time already.”
The hand holding the letter was damp with cold sweat.
Logically, I knew it.
After everything they’d done for me, I couldn’t just refuse this invitation.
But still…
“I’m sorry to the Duchess, but I don’t think I can attend.”
“You can’t come?”
I needed to clean up the mess from the failed regression spell.
I didn’t have time for social events.
And it wasn’t the kind of problem that would be solved in a day— or one that I could even guarantee I could solve.
“I’ll visit her separately when I have more time. Please tell her I’m really sorry.”
Aska didn’t say anything in response right away.
After a short pause, he finally spoke.
“Are you avoiding it because you’re scared people will compare us?”
“What? Why would I avoid you?”
“Graduation was ages ago. Don’t be like that, Rel. Even second place is something to be proud of.”
“You little—!”
I nearly snapped, but barely held myself back.
Now wasn’t the time to fight.
“This isn’t the time to argue.”
It had already been a while since I left Shiz alone, so I really needed to get rid of Aska.
“Enough with the nonsense. Just leave already.”
“I’m off work today.”
“Since when is the Dawn Tower such a relaxed place? Go back and do some extra work.”
“I don’t feel like working.”
“You’re the head of the tower!”
Every word he said made my stomach churn. Some people would do anything to work but couldn’t, while others took it lightly.
‘Why didn’t you think this way back then…!’
As I was boiling inside, a sharp crash came from upstairs.
It sounded like glass breaking.
Aska’s head snapped in that direction like a startled animal.
“What was that?”
I stopped breathing.
Even my thoughts seemed to freeze.
It must’ve been Shiz in the room, knocking something over.
“It’s—it’s nothing! Just go home already!”
I shoved Aska toward the door and slammed it shut.
Without wasting a second, I ran upstairs.
When I opened the door, I saw Shiz frozen in place, about to pick up shards of glass.
“Don’t move!”
I used magic to sweep away the sharp pieces and hurried over to her.
“It’s dangerous to touch that with your bare hands. Did you get cut?”
“I—I was just curious…”
Thankfully, she was only surprised and hadn’t hurt herself.
Relieved, I suddenly felt a wave of frustration.
“I told you to stay put! What if you had gotten seriously hurt?”
If she had, I would’ve had to call a doctor— but Shiz herself was proof of the regression spell.
I couldn’t take her outside carelessly.
Besides, she was me.
If anything happened to her body, I had no idea how it might affect me now.
“Don’t touch fragile things like glass, okay?”
“O-okay…”
She nodded with teary eyes, clearly sorry.
Seeing that, my anger softened.
“Just be more careful next time…”
That’s when I sensed someone behind me.
“…Rel?”
My whole body froze at the stunned voice behind me.
When I slowly turned my head, Aska was standing in the hallway—with a shaken expression that didn’t suit him at all.
My mind went blank.
“You—you didn’t leave…?”
“I thought I heard you yelling…”
His words came out haltingly.
It was the first time I had seen him like this, and I was even more flustered.
“…Who is that?”
At the sound of his voice, Shiz quickly clung closer to me.
I hugged her tightly, instinctively trying to cover her face.
“Well, she’s, um, that is…”
While I stammered, Aska looked between me and the girl, eyes slowly losing focus.
It was pointless to say she was just some kid I knew— Shiz looked exactly like me.
And worst of all, Aska knew what I looked like as a child!
“I asked you who she is, Relshiz Valentine.”
He stared at me, clearly demanding an answer.
I felt cold sweat trickle down my back.
If he figured out who Shiz really was, everything would be over.
“She’s, uh…”
The worst-case scenarios ran through my mind one after another.
Fired from the royal court.
Kicked out of the Mage Association.
Laughed at by my rivals.
Mana core shattered.
“Well, she’s…”
Fired. Expelled. Mocked. Mana core gone!
I panicked, and before my brain could stop me, the words just burst out.
“She’s my daughter!”
Aska’s eyes went wide.
Both Aska and Shiz stared at me with wide eyes.
In front of their gaze, I couldn’t think straight.
“M-mom…?”
Shiz muttered in disbelief.
Aska stared at me, demanding confirmation.
“What did you just say?”
I squeezed my eyes shut.
There was only one explanation I could give.
“She’s my daughter.”
I’m screwed.
I left Shiz behind and sat down to talk with Aska separately.
‘Though calling it a ‘talk’ is generous.’
The mood between us was basically a silent battlefield.
Aska, leaning against the window where the light poured in, looked more bewildered than I had seen him in years.
His expression didn’t change, but his mana was violently shaking the air around us.
‘He’s losing control of his magic.’
It wasn’t surprising that he was shocked by the mention of a child. In fact, that was completely different from what had actually happened, but still.
‘But did he actually believe me? If he didn’t, he would have just scoffed and laughed right there.’
Well, it was hard to deny that Shiz and I looked so alike.
Of course, that’s because she’s me. Ha ha.
While I continued my meaningless inner monologue, Aska still said nothing.
His gaze was fixed on the floor somewhere, and I quietly watched him, waiting for a chance to speak.
“U-um, Aska…”
“Let’s talk about it later.”
“Mm…”
His gaze remained downward. He must have a lot on his mind, too. I felt like I could speak, but I kept quiet for now.
After some time, Aska finally spoke, his lips parting heavily. His colorless eyes turned to look at me.
“…Relshiz Baltain.”
“Huh?”
He sighed softly before continuing.
“I didn’t know you had a husband…”
Huh…?
Was he angry?
There was a faint trace of irritation in his voice, so I cautiously observed his face. It didn’t look that different from usual.
As my silence dragged on, Aska’s expression became even colder.
“Did you meet him when you went to the Southern Continent?”
“Ah, uh…”
I nodded late in response.
Coincidentally, about seven years ago, I had gone to the Southern Continent and spent a considerable amount of time there.
At that time, I was disheartened because I hadn’t become the Tower Master of Dawn, so I wandered through a period of uncertainty. Who would have thought this puzzle would come together like this?
“So that’s why I didn’t know…”
He murmured something in a cool tone before turning to look at me directly, his gaze steady.
“What’s the child’s name?”
“…Shiz.”
I had just decided that earlier.
“You named her after yourself.”
Of course, because she’s me.
“Did you live in the Southern Continent before?”
No, she was summoned from the past.
“I understand now. You were leaving home sometimes because you were going to see the child.”
Well, I was in the basement researching regression magic, not seeing the child.
“Yeah, that’s right…”
Somehow, Aska was misunderstanding things and even coming up with excuses for me. Should I be thankful for that?
“…So, where is the child’s father now?”
I froze, listening to him, and suddenly looked at Aska. With his cold, expressionless face, he was staring at the door.
“Is he in this house too?”
With the way he acted, like he was about to search my house, I hastily shouted.
“W-we broke up on good terms!”
“…Broke up?”
“Yeah, yeah! We acknowledged our differences and, uh, supported each other’s paths, that kind of thing. You know how people meet and break up, right?”
“Ha…”
Aska sighed coldly and raised the corner of his mouth.
‘That bastard’s only smiling with his mouth.’
That was scarier than his usual expressionless face.
A hidden child, huh. Thinking about it again, it was a rather flimsy lie. It was annoying, but Aska was sharp, so maybe he already knew Shiz’s identity.
‘Should I just tell him the truth now?’
I thought about confessing before things got more complicated, but the aftermath made my spine shiver.
‘I’m crazy. What would I tell him?’
This guy in front of me was none other than the Master of the Magic Tower. If he found out I had tampered with the timeline, my life as a wizard would be over.
I would rather die than fall into the hands of Aska Willovis!
“…A-Aska.”
I decided to hold onto the faint hope that maybe I could avoid the worst.
I secretly pinched my thigh to shed a few tears and made my face look pitiful on purpose.
“We’re not exactly on the best of terms, but there’s something I want to ask you.”
“What is it?”
“Well, um…”
He remained silent, looking at me as if urging me to continue. I shut my eyes tightly and shouted.
“Please, don’t tell anyone I have a child! Not the Duke and Duchess of Willovis, no one!”
Even as I said it, I found myself laughing inside.
Aska would never protect me. He was the type to make my life a living hell if it suited him.
I thought to myself that he wouldn’t help me and lowered my head in resignation. If he told the Duke and Duchess or anyone else, my life would be destroyed…
But the unexpected answer came.
